"What brand cigarettes are you smoking?"

[Roselie]

I went to my nieces b-day party yesterday with the family. About an hour or so in my sister asked me if I wanted to take a "smoke break" with her. She knows I don't smoke anymore, but also knows I won't vape in somebody's house unless I know how they feel about it. We found a place away from the crowd, and she lit her cigarette. I was standing downwind and when I got a smell, I asked her what brand cigarette she was smoking. It smelled like my aunt's brand and I know my sister smokes the same brand I did before I quit. She said, Marlboro Lights. I was a little taken aback. Yesterday was my one month analog free anniversary and I couldn't even identify the brand of cigarette I had smoked for the better part of 20 years. It was just an odd feeling not being able to recognize something that was a big part of my life for so long (not necessarily a bad thing).

My sister, like me, has always been a considerate type smoker so she made me switch places with her so it wasn't blowing in my face lol. So I just blew a mix of Nickoticket's Custard's Last Stand with a little Creme Brulee mixed in in her face lol. Was trying to tempt her and it worked, she asked for a puff off of my PV.

She wants to quit smoking and can go a few days without an analog, but as of yet has not been able to quit totally. She says she doesn't want to take up vaping because she's afraid she would become addicted to it. Being only a month into it, I'm barely to the point of where I'm able to go out without my PV, so long as it's only around 2 hours give or take. I'm not quite sure what to say to this. Will you get addicted to vaping? Most likely. Is it better for you than smoking? IMO, absolutely. Would it be better to quit cold turkey? I would think so, however, as of yet I do not know anyone who is a regular smoker that has been able to do that.

Anyone have any ideas on what to say to someone who wants to quit smoking, but doesn't want to become addicted to vaping? I'm still new to this so I'm a little at a loss.

Btw, no, I wasn't tempted, at least at this time, to light up a cigarette. It didn't smell to me as bad as I thought it would, but puffing on something that taste like an ashtray or puffing on something that taste like vanilla custard. Hmmm, wasn't a difficult choice for me, at least not then lol. But then I still have a long trip ahead of me to remain analog free .

 

[bussdriver]

As far as the addiction goes, yeah, it is nicotine, and it is addictive. Many will argue as to the actual addictive "pull" of pure nicotine, but the fact remains that nicotine does have addictive qualities. Can you be addicted to vaping? Sure you can, but at least we think it's a safer addiction than the addiction to cigarettes. And, it's a lot less offensive than cigarette odors! I work with several smokers, and there are times I have to roll the window down, no matter what the temperature may be outside. Certain brands of cigarettes are definitely stronger in odor and cause more irritation than others do.

 

[Roselie]

True, I understand what you are saying. Right now switching from smoking to vaping is somewhat a gamble because we just don't know yet the long term consequences of vaping. I actually read as much research on vaping as I could before I switched over because I wanted to make as much of an educational choice as I could. I dunno, I guess it's like a lot of people say, a small handful of chemicals vs. the 4k+ in cigarettes. Seemed like a reasonable switch to myself.

As far as being offensive goes, my sister does not smoke around people if she thinks it might be offensive to them. She would rather go without and deal with the withdrawals until she can get away somewhere, so not sure if that particular argument would work with her.

Thank you buss for your opinion .

 

[Talyon]

She's already addicted to Nicotine...... Vapeing won't aid or hinder this, as Vapeing is not a cessation product, it's an alternative.

 

[meanckz]

I did all my research after I quit smoking and started vaping, I just knew I had to quit cigarettes!
And vaping works!

 

[bussdriver]

Best of luck to you Roselie, and to your sister. For myself, it's not the addiction. I can admit I am weak, I smoked for 39 years at 2 packs a day. It was flat out killing me slowly, and I didn't like it anymore. The addiction doesn't really matter since I've got it. It just came down to the fact that I was having a hard time with it healthwise. Even the being offensive with it is a minor point, as I admit that smoking is far more offensive to others. It simply smells BAD. Is vaping better for you? That question is yet to be answered. I may find that in 10 years that strawberry, bavarian cream, pineapple, etc. is slowly wiping out my lungs, much as the people breathing diacetyl found out after they made popcorn for years found out. But I do know that I feel better about it; physically as well as mentally.

I hope it all works out for you, and for your sister. At least you both know of another option.

 

[Roselie]

She's already addicted to Nicotine...... Vapeing won't aid or hinder this, as Vapeing is not a cessation product, it's an alternative.

I do understand this. When I switched from smoking to vaping I wasn't sure if I would ever give up vaping totally. Still don't know. What I did see, however, was a way to cut back on nicotine without having to hold back. Like with cigarettes, if I had them, I would smoke them. My Mother could not understand why I simply couldn't cut down on the smoking. When I started vaping I was at 18-24mg/ml. I've dropped it down to 12-18mg/ml and I'm fine with that. Will I ever get down to 0mg/ml nic? Still unsure.

I guess she wants to get rid of her "addiction" rather than transfer it to something else. But like I said, never met anyone that could do this cold turkey and not transfer it to some other addictive substance. My Dad would be a good example. He quit smoking cold turkey around 30 years ago. Since then he has steadily gained weight. He doesn't smoke anymore, but he started eating more and ended up with health issues that go hand in hand with being way overweight.

(Sorry bout taking so long, broken finger makes typing a little awkward hehe).

 

[diggyb]

Isn't that kind of the point? To begin, at least? Becoming addicted to vaping rather than smoking?

 

[Irshred]

Even though I havnt had a cigarette in over 6 months, I was at the gas station buying something when I saw a pack of lucky strikes. Man I used to love those things. So I got a pack. I dont have an idea why because they are still unopened and sitting on my dresser. I do pick th3m up and smell the pack every now and then, but a still have no idea what compelled me to buy them in the first place?

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 4

 

[RaceGun59]

I find that after vaping for 22 weeks I don't even notice when I don't vape. It used to be that if I went 30-45 with a smoke ALL I could think of was smoking. Now it will be hours and then "hey I haven't had a vape". I've gone from 24 mg to 12 mg nic and plan to stay there. Best of luck to you both.

 

[Chas F.]

I was pondering the addiction aspect of nicotine yesterday because I'm feeling much less of a need to vape now and I'm only 3 months in.

It seems that until the last couple weeks I constantly had my PV in my hand and ready at a moments notice to deliver the nicotine I craved. Almost like...no EXACTLY like a security blanket. But lately I've been feeling more independent and free to move about without it in my hand. Perhaps it's part of the natural progression when kicking a habit, but I trust myself more to be able to resist cigs and can finally release the stranglehold I've had on my PV.

Tell your sister it's not a new addiction, it's a swap from tobacco to a healthier alternative and imho a less addictive one.

 

[ConradM]

Just ask her what the lesser of 2 evils is....

 

[Roselie]

I was pondering the addiction aspect of nicotine yesterday because I'm feeling much less of a need to vape now and I'm only 3 months in.

It seems that until the last couple weeks I constantly had my PV in my hand and ready at a moments notice to deliver the nicotine I craved. Almost like...no EXACTLY like a security blanket. But lately I've been feeling more independent and free to move about without it in my hand. Perhaps it's part of the natural progression when kicking a habit, but I trust myself more to be able to resist cigs and can finally release the stranglehold I've had on my PV.

Tell your sister it's not a new addiction, it's a swap from tobacco to a healthier alternative and imho a less addictive one.

Thank you, this sums up very well what I am starting to realize for myself.

Oof, sorry, not too good at explaining myself. Suffered some pretty heavy damage to my brain about 10 years ago. About a year ago my brain started to recover in leaps and bounds, and it seems like the more my brain heals, the more I realize how socially handicapped I am lol. Just need a little practice is all .

So thanks for reading this and any/all responses .

 

[RosaJ]

I smoked for more than 40 years and smoked cigarettes that came with a set amount of nicotine in them. Cigarettes don't afford the user the choice to cut down on the nicotine, just think, there are no cigarettes that contain 0 tobacco nicotine.

I've been vaping for almost two years and have cut down the nicotine to 3mg and sometimes 0mg nicotine. So if your sister continues to smoke she certainly will never be able to wean herself off of nicotine, unless she takes Chantix and risks her sanity.

 

[DW82]

It only took me 2 or 3 months a few years ago to go from smoking almost a pack a day to zero nicotine. If you just step down the nicotine level gradually, I think it can work for most people to go off nicotine. (Of course, don't start smoking again like I did!)

But nicotine isn't the only part of smoking and vaping that is a habit - it's the ACT of doing either. You have to be willing to get over having something to do with your hands and mouth. You have to break THAT habit as well, and I've found that's far harder than going off nicotine.

 

[zahzoo]

I find it interesting the concern of an active smoker from becoming "addicted" to vaping.

From a nicotine consumption perspective... they are already 100% addicted.

From a hand to mouth fixation they are already addicted or shall we say mentally engrained in the physical behavioral ritual in response to various stimuli.

The thing I have noticed is a visual and tactile difference that I think sets vaping far apart from smoking. A cigarette looks, feels and smells (pre-burning) more or less organic... mostly a vegetable like substance and paper. Cig-a-likes mirror the look but are hard surfaced. Stepping up from there PV's look more mechanical, cold hard, shiny metallic devices to almost futuristic light sabre looking contraptions. Then add all the magical variations of e-juice brands, names and whacky claims of Unicorn Tears being the secret ingredients... I think the physical departure from the safe little organic looking thing is scarey to a lot of people.

I've encountered the same fear of addiction from several others... I just politely ask are you addicted to smoking and nicotine? The answer is generally "yes"... if the person if genuinely honest with themselves. Then I offer well consider this as an alternative with 3-4 relatively safe ingredients to your cigarette with 3000-4000 chemical compounds many of which are really bad for you. You won't instantly win anyone over... but it doesn't hurt to plant the seed to allow their brain to become open to an improved alternative.

 

[billo]

Yes, I'm still addicted to nicotine, but not nearly as much. For example, one time BOTH of my batteries went dead and I couldn't charge them for about 2 hours since I was running errands. It bothered me, but not nearly as much as when I smoked. (I vape 36 mg, too.)

I'm sure that if I wanted to quit totally it would be much easier than when I smoked since I'm no longer addicted to all those other things they put in the cigarettes.

So I sure wouldn't worry too much about trading one nicotine addiction for another.

 

[EvilZoe]

She's already addicted. She'd just be trading the stinky version of her addiction to a non-stinky version which would probably be more appealing to those around her and likely be healthier for her because she'd be able to breathe again and a lot more easily work her way down on nicotine level.

I guess I don't understand the concern about becoming addicted to vaping....lol